Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-12-11
THE RICHMOND .DIspATcH-sUNDAY DECEMBER IL 1887.

tions and the necessary amendments
would be conceded by the law-naklng
power at the proper time, when, from
my standpoint, is now at hand. UP 10
the present time the question OF amend
ments has not been urged, as 1t was de-
sired by al that the law as enacted should
have the fairest test. which threeyears
operation has given, and the verdict by
those best qualified TO iudge--yiz., the
Medical Examining Board and the
united voice Of the Medical Society OF
Virginia--is that the present law Is de-
feetive and should be amended.
At the recent annual meeting OF the
Medical Society of Virginia, held IN
Richmond, Va, q member OF the State
Medical Examining Board, then IN SEES
sion. by the advice and consent OF that
board. presented the following preamble
and resolutions q,
Whereas 1t has been demonstrated
that that provision Of the law regulating
the practice of medicine and sgrgery III
Virginia, allowing applicants Tor ezaml-
nation for license TO practice III this
State 10 appear during the vacation OF
the Medical Examining Board before
| three individual examiners, IS a detect IN
the law; and whereas the high mission
OF the Medical Examining Board OF
Virginia is seriously hindered thereby :;
therefore be 1t
Resoiued. That the Legislative Com
mittee OF this board, together with a
committee TO he appointed by this soci-
ETY., be requested 10 petition tire Legs
lature to repeal that provision OF the law
allowing applicants to appear before
/ three individual examiners.
Carried unanimously.
DIR. @. W. z. Brock, OF Richmond,
presented the following:
Resoivod, That the committee APP
/ pointed on the above resolution be also
requested to have the law 50 amended as
| TO require every candidate appearing be-
/ fore the Medical Examining Board OF
/ Virginia to present properly-attested
| diploma OF graduation in medicine from
some regularly. chartered medical school
or college before he can be entitled to
examination. a.
Adopted unanimously.
DR.. j. Il. Chancellor, ex-president Of
the Medical Society Of Virginia, offered
the following:
ResOiccd, rhatthe Legislative Commit
tee be required to request the Leglsla-
/ ture to so change or amend the existing
/ law rs to reduce the number OF the Med
ical Examining Board from 81 OF the
regular profession to y, and the homo
pathic members now D be reduced IN
| ike ratio, or one from each congressional
district instead Of three, and two from
the State at large.
This resolution was passed almost
unanimously, an ohiector calling Tor a
division. The rising rOto stood 81 Tor
the resolution and against Thus 1t Is
apparent that the present law IS defective
and unsatisfactory in manypoints.
The first resolution, that OF DR.. L. D.
Moore, OF the Medical Examining Board,
commends itseltto the profession in that
we know mt the somi-anuual meeting OF
the board in April, 1887, there were nine
teen applicants, of which number twelve
were rejected Between the April and
October meetings thiriy-six applicants
went before the individual examiners,
and of that number but two were re-
jocted. Says a prominent member OF
the board ia his criticism Clearly there
is radical defect somewhere, and so say
we all. Query: Are three unframed ex-
aminers or thirty three better than a
medical college faculty who measure
day by day through weeks and months
the students knowledge and capabillty III
the art Of healing? True, as charged, II
has been an easy matter 10 obtain q
diploma in medicine whore brain-Powel
and education failed. the potency ol
filthy lucre might avail Thank God
this we may confidently claim has never
obtained IN the Old Dominion.
The second resolution presented by
DIR. Brock commends itself t. the pro-
fession as the candidate for a license to
practice medicine and surgery who Ina:
not received bis diploma from some well
attested medical college, though he
might be licensed by the Medical Tx
aminingBoarl Of Virginia to practice
in all the branches Of medicine and sur
gerry. This license, without diploma
would not entitle him to recognition rs
doctor or practicing physician III othel
States than Virginia, save possibly the
five States having similar law.
The third resolution presented by DR.
Chancellor looks to the importance o
reducing the number Of medical examl
ners constituting the boardD from three
TO one from each congressional distrlc
and two from the State at large Gas thD
original bill proyided)-twelve IN all
instead Of thirty -seven-givinG TIM
/, homeopathic school its proper ratio o
representation. 1t is known that th'
burden of the work deyolyes upon Tn
few than seldom more than a malOrlt'
iii so many OF the members OF tn
board meet in the sessions, excepting a
the general session, which IS held 60
Incident with the annual meetings OF tn
Medical Society OF Virginia. We hay
J heard it stated that some Of the mem
hers rarely attend the sessions OF tn
, board. 1t is claimed that the Board o
Examiners nay their own expenses, an'
r no one should object to the number
True, the number Of successful appll
cauts who come before the board, eacl
, having s. for his license, does not CIV
much OF revenue, and we have no rgh
, to tax or burden the few fof the good o
, many. The present board have mani
} tested much patriotism and liberality i
! the expenditure of time and means
, The next Board of Examiners may no
} be so fortunately constituted. Reduc
; the number to ten or twelve, and tn
e fees of the applicants will go very ia
, towards PAVING tho necessary expense
. of the board. 1t is urged by some tina
the larger number of examiners the NOR
thorough and easier the work. 1t IS pre-
verbal that the most thorough and eli
Gent work is done by small bodies o
} committees. How is it in the medica
= colleges Of the country / cite espt
e cially the work of the faculty Of tn
q University Of Virginia. -Four professor
conduct all examinations for graduatlo
in the medical course. Results answer
The sessions OF the Medical Examinin
r Board if held in different sections OF tn
= State. as at the business centres, woul
/ in the majority OF cases reduce the e.
r pense of the applicant and equailze TIM
i. of the individual members of the boarC
o do away with some OF the objection
t urged, and give the profession OF Il
!. country the opportunity of seeing u